THREE of Celtic’s Invincibles squad that swept unbeaten to a domestic treble in season 2016/17 have just endured misery in their quest for success across the border.
STUART ARMSTRONG, the Scotland international midfielder who became a key component in Brendan Rodgers’ all-conquering side six years ago, has seen Southampton topple out of the English top-flight.
KIERAN TIERNEY, the left-back who left for £25million, has been part of the Arsenal squad that have collapsed in recent weeks to practically gift the title back to Manchester City.
PATRICK ROBERTS, the fans’ favourite who had two and a half years on loan from Pep Guardiola’s Etihad outfit, played heroically last night, but was helpless as Sunderland saw their hopes obliterated of a return to the Premier League when they lost 2-0 to Luton to crash out of the play-offs 3-2 on aggregate.
INVINCIBLES…Celtic line up for the 2017 Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen. Back row (left to right): Craig Gordon, Leigh Griffiths, Jozo Simunovic, Dedryck Boyata and Scott Sinclair; Front row: Stuart Armstrong, Mikael Lustig, Callum McGregor, Scott Brown, Kieran Tierney and Patrick Roberts.
It’s been a heartbreaking few days for the Hoops heroes and it all started to go wrong on Saturday for Armstrong and the south-coast team who have raided Parkhead in the recent past for top stars such as Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster as well as the playmaker.
Any last chance they had of survival was dynamited when they crashed 2-0 at home to Fulham to leave them rock-bottom on 24 points and no way back with two games still to play.
Twenty-four hours later, Tierney lined up against Brighton at The Emirates and was left shell-shocked following a 3-0 thumping from their unfancied opponents.
MEDALLION MEN…Patrick Roberts and Kieran Tierney after the 2-1 win over the Dons in the 2017 Scottish Cup Final.
The left Mikel Arteta’s side on 81 points and City, with a game in hand, on 82. The Gunners’ mighty effort to win the main prize has been left in rubble following a series of disappointing results and there will be no crowning glory for Tuerney and Co this time around.
And the painful hat-trick was completed at Kenilworth Road last night when Roberts and Sunderland, managed by former Hoops boss Tony Mowbray, lost 2-0 to Luton who booked their spot in the Championship play-off final.
GOALSCORING HEROES…Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic share the joy.
They will face either Middlesbrough or Coventry – who play tonight – at Wembley on Saturday for a place in the Premier League.
Mowbray’s men led 2-1 from the weekend’s first leg, but saw their advantage wiped out in the tenth minute when Gabriel Osho scored from close range.
Tom Lockyer headed in the winner and even a timely goal-line clearance from Roberts could not inspire his colleagues to a fightback.
